The life and work of Dermot Medley ('Derek') Williamson (1929-1998)

Derek Williamson's scientific career spanned the 'Golden Age' of research i nto metabolic regulation, to which he made an important and sustained contr ibution. Derek joined Hans Krebs' laboratory at Sheffield University in 194 6 and moved to Krebs' MRC Unit in Oxford in 1960. He elaborated an enzymic method for the determination of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate [William son, Mellanby and Krebs, Biochem. J. (1962) 82, 90-96], which opened up the field of ketone body metabolism and its regulation and became a Citation C lassic. Another Citation Classic followed [Williamson, Lund and Krebs, Bioc hem. J. (1967) 103, 514-527]. He moved with Krebs to the Metabolic Research Laboratory at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1967, where he blossomed, formula ting his ideas about the integrated regulation of metabolic pathways, parti cularly with regard to fatty acid oxidation, lipid synthesis and ketone bod y metabolism. His success was illustrated by more than 200 publications. De rek implanted and nurtured a sense of the excitement of scientific discover y in his colleagues and students, and he worked hard to provide a friendly, supportive and encouraging environment. Many lives have been enriched by t he privilege of working with him.